Michael Carrick reveals Marcus Rashford plan as Manchester United return confirmed

Rashford could face a reunion with former manager Ruben Amorim

Marcus Rashford will join up with the Manchester United squad as they head to the Republic of Ireland for the next phase of pre-season, Michael Carrick has confirmed.

Rashford’s club future has appeared in limbo this summer after Barcelona opted not to exercise their £26million option to sign him on a permanent transfer following his season-long loan spell at the Camp Nou last term.

The 28-year-old’s United career had previously appeared to be all but over after he was frozen out by former boss Ruben Amorim, having also spent time out on loan at Aston Villa and not played for his parent club in a competitive fixture since a Europa League meeting with Viktoria Plzen in December 2024.

Rashford - under contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2028 - was part of the England squad that finished third at this summer’s World Cup in North America, after which he was entitled to a mandatory three-week holiday.

That break is now coming to an end, with Carrick confirming that he will link back up with United in the days ahead as they head to Dublin for a training camp that includes a historic friendly showdown with rivals Leeds at Dublin’s Croke Park on Wednesday night.

Rashford will be joined by England team-mate Kobbie Mainoo and Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez, who have also been on holiday following their respective World Cup exertions.

“I've played with him. I played in the game he made his debut, so we have a history,” Carrick said when asked about Rashford following Saturday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg.

“We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together.

“Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie and Lisandro. We look forward to seeing them.”

It has been reported this week that Rashford - said to be on wages of £325,000 a week - will earn an extra £4m this season if he stays at United due to a contract clause related to their qualification for the Champions League, while another clause that made him available for any club bar Manchester City or Liverpool to sign for £40m was said to have expired last month.

Carrick will be hoping that Mason Mount is fit to play against Leeds after he limped off just 20 minutes into the PSG game, having sustained a knock during a heavy challenge.

The former Chelsea playmaker was seen leaving the Ullevi Stadium on Saturday without any limp or protective boot and walking freely, with his manager having confirmed that the substitution was precautionary.

Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton was forced off straight after the interval against PSG due to a hamstring injury, while United remained without the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt in Sweden, as well as long-term absentee Manuel Ugarte and the ill Senne Lammens and Matheus Cunha.

However, new signing Youri Tielemans made an impressive debut off the bench as captain Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui all returned.

After their Ireland camp and meeting with Leeds, United finish off pre-season against an AC Milan side managed by Amorim in Wroclaw, Poland next weekend, with their Premier League opener coming away at newly-promoted Hull on August 22.